Hero rescues woman from Royal Victoria Dock

Will, 33, was preparing for bed at around 11.30pm last Wednesday when he first heard a commotion outside.

He said: "That happens quite a lot round here, but this sounded a bit different, like someone throttling a dog.

"I stood up on the bed and looked out of the window. I could hear a girl screaming somewhere, but I couldn't work out where the noise was coming from.

"Then I saw a figure in the dock. I've been swimming in there while competing in the triathlon, and I know how cold it is. We usually wear wetsuits.

"I sprinted down and I got out to the dock in about 35 seconds. I could see her hands but she was going underneath the water.

"I ran to the side, locked my feet to the railings at the bottom of the steps on the side, reached in head-first and pulled her out."

The sales director for Old Street company UTalkMarketing then wrapped his arms around the freezing woman while his girlfriend ran down with towels.

The distressed lady - who Will describes as "a French woman aged around 30 years old" - was starting to convulse from the cold.

A group of plain clothes police officers operating nearby arrived at the scene soon after and an ambulance was called.

Will returned to his home in the early hours. He plans to compete in the dock during August's triathlon, having participated in 2007. But he is well aware of the dangers of the water outside his window.

He said: "I know they lose quite a few people from jumping in Royal Victoria Dock. It's freezing cold and it takes your breath away.

"If I had dived in after her, we would have both been in trouble because we wouldn't have been able to get out.

A police spokeswoman confirmed that the woman had recovered from her ordeal after being taken to an East London hospital.

She said: "Two police officers on duty in Keats Avenue were alerted to a woman in the water at 11.33pm last Wednesday. A member of the public was already on the scene pulling her out.

"It is understood the woman jumped in and it is not being treated as suspicious."

Will hopes his experience will encourage others to take a closer look when they hear noises from their windows.

He said: "People need to watch out when they hear things going on outside their houses, especially if they live near water.

"They can't just assume it's someone joking around. If we had not moved quickly, there would have been a body out there in the morning."